1. A ribbon of blue silk worn as a badge of honor; esp. the broad dark blue ribbon worn by members of the order of the Garter.
1651. Let. fr. France, in Proc. in Parl., No. 116. 1800. The Queen [of France] hath sent to the Count of Doignion … promising him the staffe of the Marshall of France, and of a blew Ribbon.
1690. Temple, Ess. Health, Wks. 1731, I. 274. A White Staff will not help gouty Feet … nor a Blue Ribband bind up a Wound so well as a Fillet.
1867. Morley, Burke, 56. Rising to thunderous denunciations of ‘the noble lord in the blue ribbon.’
2. The greatest distinction, the most distinguished place, the first prize.
1848. Disraeli, in Harper’s Mag., Aug. (1883), 340/2. ‘You do not know what the Derby is!’ ‘Yes, I do. It is the Blue Ribbon of the Turf.’
1875. Poste, Gaius, I. § 7. 37. The blue ribbon of the profession should never be conferred on any lawyer who had antiquarian notions of constitutional law.
1883. Standard, 21 May, 2/1. The Blue Riband of the Turf is destined to go to Heath House.
3. A small strip of blue ribbon worn by certain abstainers from alcoholic beverages, as a means of mutual recognition, and as a public indication of their principles; hence to take the blue ribbon. Blue Ribbon Army: the association of such Total Abstainers. Hence Blue-ribboner, Blue-ribbonism, Blue-ribbonist, Blue-ribbonite.
1878. Christian, 16 May (heading), Gospel-Temperance in Hoxton—A Blue Ribbon Army.
1882. Society, 11 Nov., 22/2. He has joined … the Blue Ribboners. Ibid., 30 Dec., 20/1. [It] would make even a blue-ribbon man think kindlily of spirits.
1884. Graphic, 9 Aug., 134/2. At an hotel it might be supposed that most people have taken the Blue Ribbon.
1885. Athenæum, 31 Oct., 567/3. Such forms of extravagance as ritualism and blue-ribbonism.
1885. C. Lowe, Bismarck, II. 488. Not his the heart that could be cheered by blue-ribbon liquors.
